Mulligan

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Definition of MULLIGAN
: a free shot sometimes given a golfer in informal play when the previous shot was poorly played (Merriam Webster Online)

Question: Exactly how many do overs should one person get when attempting to achieve a goal?

Answer: As many times as it takes.

It is with a heavy heart that I admit to the SP Universe that I have gained 35 of the 40 lbs I had lost with Spark People. The reason is simple: I quit doing what worked; please believe me when I say that Spark People WORKS! I am living proof of the fact. I'm also living proof that weight loss isn't forever if you ignore success strategies.

The new year is upon us and SP will no doubt notice an influx in membership; I will personally do my share by spreading the word via Facebook and Twitter. If by chance a new comer stumbles on my page by accident, please allow me to give you some advice on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle goal. I plan on taking my own advice this year.

1. OBSERVE PORTION SIZES
Rarely do we eat a recommended serving size of a food item. The average plate of spaghetti has two to three times the recommended serving of pasta. This adds up to a lot of calories!

2. TRACK YOUR FOOD INTAKE
It is amazing how quickly 1,500 calories adds up. Keep track of every morsel that goes into your mouth. Just because it's not eaten from a plate, doesn't mean that it is not adding to your daily calorie intake.

3. MOVE IT, MARTHA
Every day, move! You don't have to do a marathon every week in order to stay healthy and active. Almost every activity counts as moving and it doesn't have to be drudgery. Gardening, swimming, and walking the dog all count!

4. DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES
Ideally, the only liquids you should consume from a glass is unflavored water, but for a lot of us (me!), that's not very realistic. Wean yourself off the lattes and full-calorie sodas by substituting skim lattes and diet sodas. Maybe one day, you won't "need" those beverages to get by and they can instead become "treats".

5. YOU WILL BACK SLIDE; DON'T GIVE UP
Back sliding, having bad days, and reaching plateaus are par for the course. Expect them and prepare for them. The secret success is not to give up when things get hard (and they will). You must "keep on keeping on" and plow through the low points so that you can come through the other side victorious.

You can do this; SparkPeople WILL help. Trust the advice you read and follow it. It will work. I'm living proof (and unfortunately, I'm also living proof that the process and the maintaining of the progress is not effort free).

If you put in the effort, you will see results. I promise.
(12/28/2010)